Nicolas Fernandez scored two goals and Alonso Martinez added another to power New York City over Charlotte FC 3-1 on Friday and into the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the MLS Cup playoffs.
NYCFC, which captured its only MLS crown in 2021, won the best-of-three first round series 2-1 and advanced to a one-match showdown with East top seed Philadelphia Union.
NYCFC won the opener 1-0 while Charlotte captured the goalless second match on penalty kicks to set up the winner-take-all showdown at Charlotte.
Charlotte, which edged NYCFC for the fourth seed and home-field advantage in the series, won an MLS-best 13 home games during the campaign but couldn't grab the triumph when it mattered most.
Fernandez opened the scoring in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
The 25-year-old Argentine midfielder stole the ball in the NYCFC end, dribbled down the field and fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the top left corner.
Costa Rican striker Martinez, who netted 17 goals in 29 MLS regular season matches, doubled the New York lead in the 50th minute with a left-footed shot into the lower right corner of the goal.
Charlotte leaped back into the match when Israeli striker Idan Toklomati scored in the 81st minute on a right-footed blast from the heart of the box.
But Fernandez added a clinching goal in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time to seal New York's victory, the visitors battling through 15 minutes of stoppage time before the final whistle.